ATLANTA (May 29, 2024) – Last week, Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro) was appointed to serve as Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia’s Farmlands by Lt. Governor Burt Jones. Additional Senate members appointed to serve on the study committee include Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas), Sen. Brandon Beach (R–Alpharetta), Sen. Jason Esteves (D–Atlanta), Sen. Russ Goodman (R–Cogdell), Sen. Freddie Powell Sims (D–Dawson) and Sen. Sam Watson (R–Moultrie).
“I’m deeply honored to be appointed as Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia’s Farmlands, and I want to thank Lt. Governor Burt Jones for this opportunity,” said Sen. Hickman. “Agriculture is the backbone of Georgia’s economy, yet our farmers continue to face severe and continuous challenges. With Georgia losing approximately 2.6 million acres of farmland from 1974 to 2016, including additional loss as each year passes, it’s crucial that we take decisive action. While the enactment of the Freedom to Farm Act in 2022 and the Georgia Farmland Conservation Act in 2023 have been great steps forward, our work is far from over. Our committee will evaluate farmland protection measures from other agricultural states and seek expert advice to develop additional strategies that support and preserve our farmlands for future generations.”
The committee is tasked with undertaking a study of the conditions, needs, issues and problems related to the preservation of Georgia’s farmlands and recommending any action or legislation.
The Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia’s Farmlands was created pursuant to the adoption of Senate Resolution 470. Future meetings of the study committee will be announced at a later date.
You can read the full text of SR 470 here.
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Sen. Billy Hickman serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education. He represents the 4th Senate District which includes Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Evans, and a small portion of Chatham County. He may be reached at 404.463.1371 or via email at billy.hickman@senate.ga.gov